Tylenol #3 vs. Hydros

[beentrying2quit]

I have chronic pain and require some kind of pain med to help.  I'm also not able to take any OTC meds due to stomach problems.  Which is stronger...Hydros or Tylenol #3 w/codeine?  I realize this is not quite apples to apples but what I'm trying to figure out is which is the weaker of the two and take that instead of the stronger one.  I know that both are addictive but if I'm taking the weaker of the two I might be able to handle that.

Thanks

[slideshow]

For what its worth, there are tylenol 4s which are stronger than 3s, one 4 I think is the same codiene does as 2 each 3s.  Less tylenol this way.

[slideshow]

I'm going avoid judgments here and just give you my opinion.   The hydrocodone is simply a better medication IMO.....Easy on the stomach, newer technology, just all around better, "for me"...Not sure if one is any more or less addicting than the other.....Truth is, as long as you take "as prescribed" by your doc and only for as long as doc says, and don't cop from the street, you should be fine.  This statement in no way reflects any professional judgment.   Perhaps simply let your doc decide.  Most docs nowadays are going with the newer meds (not that hydro is new, but it is newer than codiene).

[Savas]

Worry more about frequency than strength. You'd actually be better off taking fewer doses than having to take multiple pills to deal with the pain. The hydrocodone is stronger and if you can take the T3's that's great, but what you need to go by is how many milligrams of codeine are in each actual pill. T3's vary around 50 to 150, hydro's can go up to the 500's (I'm guessing here from spotty memory, mind you).

Just try to take it as few times a possible. The addiction starts from the repetition. The strength just sets the tolerance level.

[3grlz'mom]

I have the same stomach problem w/ aspirin, advil and aleve.  If I take it for more than a few days it will really rip up my stomach - I needed an endoscopy and they found the lining was bleeding and ripped up due to advil - ouch! - it took 3 months to heal it up!  I have taken both Tylenol 3's and Norco which is hydrocodone and acetaminophin - neither have affected my stomach at all, thankfully.  If it's acetaminophin w/ the narcotic it's pretty gentle on the stomach but you just can't take too much because then it affects the liver!   (always a trade-off)  I have personally found the Norco to be stronger than the Tylenol 3's.  In my experience it would seem like I'd need 2 T3's for the same pain relief as one Norco.  But again, that is just me.  I think they are just different formulations of the same derivitive of the same plant and I think I read somewhere that Norco is part synthetic.  I found that I have a terrible rebound-type headache w/ the T3's which has never occurred w/ the Norco.   Codiene also make me itch like crazy - even at small doses and it takes a much higher dose of the Norco to cause that.  Just my experience - hope it helps!  BTW - my advice is to take as little as possible and only when you just can't take it anymore.  I was not using much discretion in those areas and it was very easy for me to work myself up to 6 - 9 a day, which I know now was not necessary for getting me through the day.  Try taking half of what you actually need and see if it might be enough.  Try waiting the 6 hours between doses and then see if you can go a bit longer.  My dad does this - he has spinal stenosis and is in constant pain but he never takes more than 2 a day - he is so disciplined!  I am wimpier - I can reach for that bottle when it's only been 2 hours.  That's the line we walk w/ these things.  Taking as needed.  Not taking as "wanted".  :)  

[NautyOne]

I too took ty3  didn't bother my stomach, but didnt work as well as vic's but i was used to the vic's,  but tylenol3 is addictive, i think it the lesser of the two evils, but like dng said....try to avoid.  otc pain relievers are much more stomach friendly then prescription drugs......so i don't get that.

[angel47630]

I had tried a codeine based pain med in the beginning for pain management and my stomach was a total mess.   My pharmacist said that codeine is harder on the stomach than plain aspirin so you might want to steer clear of that...............

Ask a dr and avoid any narcotic if possible, it just isn't worth it.

Karen

[dng]

i'm not sure...i think you should just ask your doctor